The Swiss company Cavotec has received an order to supply a shore power system for the Port of Antwerp-Bruges twin port.
The cruise terminal will be equipped with a shore power system in the future. Completion is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026 and the total value of the order is €1.55 million.
The system aims to reduce emissions and at the same time ensure compliance with international environmental regulations in port: In future, cruise ships calling at the terminal in Antwerp should be able to switch off their on-board generators and significantly reduce emissions during laytime. The project is co-financed by the European Union.
As part of the agreement, Cavotec will also provide maintenance services for the system over a five-year period.
“This contract reinforces our strong position in the shore power market for cruise applications and underlines customer confidence in our technology as ports accelerate their transition to clean operations,” said David Pagels, CEO of Cavotec, on the occasion of the new contract. The engineering company, headquartered in Lugano, has been active in the maritime sector for over 50 years.
Antwerp goes electric
Antwerp is also increasingly turning to electricity in other areas: Europe’s first fully electric tugboat, the “Volta 1”, recently started operating in the port – a pioneering step, as tugboat operations account for 85% of emissions within the port.
Shore power is also playing a growing role in other European ports. In Hamburg, for instance, cruise ships have been drawing electricity from the local grid for some time, and the service has recently been extended to the first container terminals.
